Selena Uibo exposes Lia’s whopping Corrections outsourcing backflip

Opposition leader Selena Uibo has called out the chief minister for a stunning policy reversal. Read what it is.

United Workers Union NT secretary Erina Early standing outside NT Parliament House with more than 40 Corrections officers on Tuesday February 11, 2025. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The union representing corrections officers has questioned the safety of staff under proposed changes to Northern Territory prison operations.

United Workers Union secretary Erina Early said amendments to the NT Corrections Act that passed through parliament last week would mean the employment of “unqualified people” performing roles usually done by corrections employees.

The comments came as an October 2018 media release emerged in which then deputy opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro attacked the previous Labor Government for its failure to reach an operational agreement with United Workers Union ahead of industrial action.

In the 2018 statement she whacked Labor’s plans around prison privatisation.

“A cut-priced approach to Corrections, including outsourcing, is unsafe and irresponsible, especially given the Territory is currently at record high levels of crime and incarceration,” she said in 2018.

Opposition leader Selena Uibo has caught-out the chief minister.

“The Opposition does not support the outsourcing of Correction Officer roles.”

Present-day opposition leader Selena Uibo called out Ms Finocchiaro’s policy opportunism.

“Lia Finocchiaro will say anything if it suits her narrative,” Ms Uibo said.

“In Opposition, she said outsourcing Corrections Officer roles was dangerous and unsafe.

“Now she’s Chief Minister she thinks flying in private security contractors from interstate to deal with her prison mess is a great idea.

“Territorians deserve a leader who stands by their word – not one who relentlessly flip flops for their own political ends.”

In response, Ms Finocchiaro said a Corrections workforce shortage forced the government’s hand.

“Our quick action means trained interstate personnel can take on roles such as prisoner transport and escort duties to stop our corrections officers and police from being a taxi and babysitting service,” she said.

“This will free-up corrections officers to focus inside prisons on rehabilitation and operational priorities.”

Last week, the UWU’s Ms Early attacked the CLP for opening up Corrections to “private labor hire”.

“Our officers are anxious and furious about these changes, as some of their correctional officer roles will be performed by unqualified people,” she said.

“Officers are very concerned about their safety more than ever, and have genuine fear that corrections will be completely privatised in the future.”

United Workers Union NT secretary Erina Early. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Figures sourced from NT WorkSafe showed prison officers, with 13 serious injury claims, were the third highest occupation type seriously injured in the public service.

They were pipped by police officers with 15 serious injury claims in 2023-24 and welfare professionals, with 14 serious claims.

There were 48 claims by prison officers last financial year.

Of those, 13 or 27 per cent, were deemed serious, meaning the employee required at least one week off due to their injuries.

Total time lost was 42 weeks and the total claim cost was $267,000.

The main cause of serious injury to prison officers was being hit by moving objects, or assault.

NT Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley said unqualified personnel would not be employed in the Territory system.

“We’ve never said this is about putting untrained, unqualified inexperienced individuals in harm’s way,” Mr Varley said.

“It’s misinformation we’re going to go down to a random security company and employ a security guard or a taxi driver. If I could do that, I’d put them through the normal regular training course.”

Originally published as Selena Uibo exposes Lia’s whopping Corrections outsourcing backflip